In a move to mitigate the effects of the ongoing federal government shutdown, the State of Colorado is taking decisive action to maintain operations at two key visitor centers in Rocky Mountain National Park. According to a recent announcement by Governor Polis, as detailed by the Colorado Governor's Office, the Beaver Meadows and Kawuneeche Visitor Centers will continue to stay open, at least for the coming week.
The effort, jointly supported by the Colorado Department of Natural Resources (DNR) and the Colorado Tourism Office (CTO), is a response not just to keep tourists flowing, but also to swiftly protect the economic interests of local communities heavily reliant on the park's visitors. "Rocky Mountain National Park visitor centers are very important to helping all visitors stay informed, stay safe, and enjoy nature. By taking this action, we are helping our local communities and allowing visitors continued access into the park to enjoy the breathtaking vistas and activities Rocky Mountain National Park has to offer,” Governor Polis emphasized, as obtained by the Colorado Governor's Office.
The importance of tourism to Colorado's economy can not be understated, with the CTO Executive Director, Eve Lieberma, highlighting the substantial contribution of this sector. “The tourism industry contributes $28.5 billion to Colorado’s economy and supports over 188,000 jobs across the state. Keeping Rocky Mountain National Park and these visitor centers open promotes a positive visitor experience, helps protect our state’s incredible public lands and supports a critical sector of our economy," said Lieberman, as reported by the Colorado Governor's Office. The state's quick intervention intends to maintain this status quo despite federal inaction.
To ensure the continuation of services, the DNR and CTO are indeed splitting the cost, which is to totals up to $3,200 per day, to keep these visitor centers running. Dan Gibbs, Executive Director of the Colorado Department of Natural Resources, told the Colorado Governor's Office, “National Parks are integral to the outdoor activities and beauty Colorado has to offer and the current shutdown has created uncertainty for park staff, visitors, and surrounding communities whose jobs and economies are closely tied to our national parks. We are hopeful the state’s contribution can provide some of the national park experience visitors expect until the Park is able to return to full operations.”
